Charter aircraft delay.......
If I was a journo (which I am not, and never have been!) I would ask the FO whether the "tech" delay at LGW was down to insurance problems on the airframe.
Being cynical in my old age, I can easily imagine the charter airline having difficulties, not so much about getting crew as it is possible to encourage volunteers to fly the plane, but getting insurance cover for the hull might be difficult in a conflict zone.
Mind you, these wouldn't have arisen in the days when the RAF had real options to offer HMG, with not just a choice of aircaft but a range of airfields from which to dispatch them!
MB